Fatherhood Engagement Network

The NYS Council on Developmental Disabilities (CDD) is seeking to fund one grantee up to $150,000 a year for five years ($750,000 total, subject to availability of funding) to establish a statewide initiative that strengthens New York's capacity to engage, support, and empower fathers and father figures who support a person with developmental disabilities (DD).

The CDD is seeking proposals from eligible organizations to strengthen and support fathers and father figures in New York State who support a person with developmental disabilities (DD).

This 5-year investment would aim to create the infrastructure for a Fatherhood Engagement Network that expands opportunities for fathers to connect with services, learn from one another, and become active partners in supporting their children and families.

The selected grantee will develop and implement the Father Engagement Network to strengthen and support fathers and father figures in New York State who support a person with developmental disabilities (DD). Key deliverables include:

1. Establishment of a statewide Father Engagement Network, coordinating existing father organizations and identifying opportunities to expand and create new father groups around New York State.
2. Development of father leadership and advocacy opportunities, including recruiting, training and supporting fathers to serve as mentors and community leaders.
3. Implement father-to-father peer support services, connecting fathers with shared experiences, including fathers who are newly navigating a child’s developmental disability diagnosis.
4. Develop partnerships with pediatric healthcare providers, developmental disability service providers and other relevant professionals to identify and refer fathers to the Father Engagement Network and other available father support services.
5. Develop and share recommendations, resources and promising practices to strengthen New York States developmental disability service systems’ ability to support and serve fathers.
6. Develop a sustainability plan for the Father Engagement Network.

The intended outcomes of this grant opportunity may include:

1. Improved social, emotional and mental well-being for fathers
2. Increased father participation in care and advocacy
3. Greater father confidence in supporting their child

**Online submission required.** All final grant applications must be received in Qualtrics by **11:59 PM Eastern Time (ET)** on the Proposal Due Date. Proposals will only be accepted in Qualtrics. Proposals will not be accepted via fax, e-mail, hard copy or hand delivery. Late proposals will not be accepted.

New York State requires nonprofits to register in the Statewide Financial System (SFS) and complete the Vendor Prequalification process for proposals to be evaluated. Government entities are not required to prequalify in SFS.

The contract awarded in response to this RFP will be for 5 years with an anticipated start date of April 1, 2027, and an anticipated end date of March 31, 2032.

All CDD grants require a Match. Grantees must ensure a match of at least **34%** of the grant amount. Federal funds may not be used as grantee match.

CDD Indirect Costs should not exceed 15% of the budgeted direct expenses.

Proposals will be evaluated and scored based on the criteria listed in Section 4.3 Scoring Rubric. Applications that are not deemed to be complete will not be reviewed.